” 
372 Report on the Boring [Juny, 
geologist to predict want of success in Bengal, unless he was well assured 
that the rocks under the alluvium were of the granitic or unstratified 
class. 
The depth yet attained is very trifling, and we all concur in thinking that 
the experiment should not be relinquished, until the ground has been pierced 
at least to the depth of 500 feet. Borings in Europe seem seldom to have 
been undertaken upon purely scientific principles or expectations ; sometimes 
they have started in direct opposition to them, and yet obstinate perseverance 
has frequently been crowned with success: so may it be in India. While 
drawing up our report, we hear of the eminent good fortune which has 
attended Lieut. Funtsame’s attempts in Guzerdt, at Ahmedabad*, where wa- 
ter rushed up with great force through the tubes to the astonishment of the 
inexperienced in such matters. The soil of the plains in Guzerdt is so 
sandy and unretentive of moisture, that most of the wells have a depth 
exceeding 100 feet. But we have not sufficient knowledge of the country 
to draw any deductions applicable to our own position in Bengal. 
2. In reply then to the second query, we are of opinion that it is by all 
means expedient to continue the boring, and were the Society in a condition 
to afford the funds necessary, we should be sorry to see the honor of its 
superintendence transferred to other hands. 
3. The accidents which have hitherto impeded the progress of the auger 
below 175 feet, are entirely attributable to the falling in of the lower sandy 
stratum, an increasing difficulty against which no sufficient remedy has been 
provided. All perseverance in boring, as long as this impediment exists, or 
is not counteracted, has been, and will be, an absolute throwing away of 
money and time. 
The remedy always adopted in such cases of bad soil at home consists in 
lining the perforated hole with copper or cast iron tubes well united with 
spigot and faucet joints. 
It is therefore indispensable that these articles be provided before the 
boring can proceed or be renewed. The tubes may either be supplied from 
England, or now that the casting of iron is practised in India, they may be 
made here: the expence however in the latter case is estimated by one of 
our members at full double the English cost, and there is a chance of failure 
in the texture of the metal from the want of raw material to fuse with the 
fragments of old cast iron of which the fount usually consists in India. It 
seems therefore preferable to commission the tubes at once from Englandt, 
giving the manufacturers every information regarding the nature of the 
soil and the depth, that they may adapt the most convenient lengths to 
‘the tubes of the different grades and sizes. At the same time, any new tools 
or apparatus for facilitating the operation may be commissioned out. 
* The boring was commenced at the bottom ofan abandoned well. 
+ We understand that a large supply of cast-iron tubes and boring rods was brought 
out for Madras by the H. C.S. Buckinghamshire this season.—Ep. 
